Automatic traffic-signal mechanism



June 16, 1925.

-C. H. KAYSER AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet '1 FiledJan. v 9, 1924 m s W m W..

ATTORNEYS.

cBY

June 16, 1925.

C. H. KAYSER AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL MECHANISM Filed Jan, 9', 1924' 4Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

l III June I6, 1925., 1,542,395

c. H. KAYSER AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL MECHANISM Fiied Jan, s, 1924 4sheets-sheet s INVENTo R- Wa] l AA TTORNEYS.

June I6, 1925.

C. H. KAYSER AUTOMATIC 'IRAFFIGv SIGNAL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 4 TMM/ 1N V EN TOR. 17 /X A9501:

A TT ORNE YS.

Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. KAYSER, OF MONTC'LAIR, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC-SIGNAL MEHANISM.

Application filed January 9, 192.4. Serial No. 685,079.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KAYsER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticTraflic-Signal Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the-following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art'to which it appertains to make and luse thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tocharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an automatic trafic signal mechanism for use'at city street and highway intersections.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a simple, durableand automatic mechanism for actuating traffic signals, which Ais ofcomparatively low initial cost, and which maybe operated and maintainedat very small cost.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel trafiic signaldevice having visible signal means for both day and night, and alsoaudible signal means, to-

`gether with automatic means for actuating theyseveral signals; and theinvention has for a still further object to provide in connection withthe automatic signal actuatingl means, a novel arrangement of meanswhereby the time intervals during which given signals are made mayberegulated or controlled as necessit may require. Other objects of t isinvention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will beclearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.A

With the various objects of the invention in view, thesame consists,primarily, in the novel automatic traflic signal mechanism hereinafterset forth; and, the invention consistsfurthermor'e, in the novel arianements and combinations of the variousdevices and parts, as well as inthe details of the construction of the saine, all of which will behereinafter more fully described, a`iid then finally embodied in theclaims. ap-

pended hereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the `accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is an elevation of the novel automatic traffic signalmechanism, `made according to and embodying the principles of the signalactuating mechanism; Figure 7 is a detail of the bell or gong tripwheel; Figure 8 is a detail perspective of the weight supporting triplever; Figure 9 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits for themotor and lighting system of the signal mechanism; Figure 10 is afragmentary detail of a modified form of signal'actuating mechanism; andFigure 11 is a-detail hori` zontal section of the latter, taken on line11-11 in said Figure 10.

Similar characters of reference are einployed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 12 indicates asuitable base upon which the traiic signal mechanism is supported.Preferably this base is of greater diametric dimension, than the trafficsignal mechanism supported thereon, and is provided at its upperperiphery with an outwardly projecting flange, lip or fender portion 13,whichtends to prevent vehicles, that may accidentally collide with thebase, from ridin up on the latter to the possible injuryof t e trafiicsignal mechanism supported thereon. Said base 12 may be made of stone,concrete, cast metal orof any other material convenient and suitable forthe purpose.

Centrally fixed upon said base 12 is a housing 14 of any suitabledesign, the side walls of which are provided with removable panels ordoors 15 giving access to the interior of the housing within which theautomatic signal actuating device of the mechanism are arranged.

Secured within said housing 14, so as to be disposed horizontallytherein, is a bridge plate 16. Mounted upon said bridge plate 16, so asto extend upwardly therefrom and outwardly through the top of saidhousing '14, is a hollow vertical post 17. Rotatablv 18 is a bevel gear20.

Attached to the upper end of said post 17l isa cap-piece 21 providedwith an electric lamp-socket 22, to which is fitted a suitable electriclamp 23.

Secured upon the upper end of said sleeve or hollow shaft 18, so as toturn therewith, isalamp-housing 24 having four apertured sides. Arrangedin the apertures of one pair YYY.of diametrically opposite sideslof saidlamp- 20. housing are signal lens 25 of glass, or other transparentmaterial, suitably colored, to

provide a signal indication visible at night; as, for example, a white,yellow or green color to indicate a clear passage to approachingvehicles. Arranged in the apertures of the other pair of diametricallyopposite sides of saidl lamp-housing are' signal lens 26 of glass, orother transparent material, suitably colored, to provide a signalindication visible at night; as, for example, a red color to indicatethat passage is closed to approaching vehicles. l Mounted on said hollowshaft 18, below said signal lamp-housing 24, are a set of signalsemaphore devices adapted to bear signal legends visible in day-light.semaphore devices are preferably constructed and mounted in thefollowing manner. Fixed upon said hollow shaftlS is a sleeve 27.Projecting outwardly from said sleeve 27, in positions spaced -downwardla suitable distance from the upper end o the latter, are four pair ofperforate ears or fulcrum lugs'28. The semaphore devices per sepreferably comprise a pair of rectangular frames 29 open at Atheir uppermargins for the insertion thereinof legend bearing placards 30, and apair of like rectangular frames 31 also open at their upper margins forthe insertion therein of legend bearing placards 32. The frames 29 and31 are provided at their lower inner corners with perforate ears 33which are respectively receivedA between the respective pair of fulcrumlugs 28, to which they are pivotally connected by a suitable hinge pinor pintle 34. Projecting from said sleeve 27, at the upper end thereof,are socket lugs 35, which embrace and hold the upper inner corners ofthe respective frames 29 and 31, when the latter are turned up tooperative positions. Each frame 29 and 31 is provided intermediate theends of its lower margin, withna perforate ear 36. Vertically slidableupon the shaft 18, below the sleeve 27, is a sllde- Said' collar 37,which is also provided with four pairs of perforate ears or lugs 38.Pivotally interconnected between the respective lugs 38 and the ears 36of said frames 29 and 31 are links 39. When in operative position, therespective p airs of frames 29 and 31 are raised so that the same extendoutwardly from the shaft 18, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pair ofdiametrically opposite frames 29 are provided with the lacards 3Q uponVwhich is inscribed a suita le legend, such as the word Stop to indicatethat passage is closed to approaching vehicles; while the other pair ofdiametrically oppo` site fra-mes 31 (which extend at right angles to theframes 29) are provided with the placards 32 upon which is inscribed asuitable legend, such as the word Go to indicate that passage is open toapproaching vehicles. When it is desired to indicate that trafiicregulations are suspended, and the signal mechanism is not working, thesemaphores or frames, with their legend bearing placards, are turneddownward (as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings), such position of thesema hores or frames being attained by sliding ownward the slide-collar37 against a stop-collar 40 which is fixed on theshaft 18, thus causingthe links 39 to pull or swing the semaphores or frames into saiddownwardly turned inoperative position.

Secured upon the shaft 18, adjacent to its lower end, but above the topof the housing 14, are one or more V`outwardl projecting hand levers 41,by means of which the signal device may be 'actuated and controlled byhand, should any occasion render hand manipulation thereof desirable.

Supported upon said bridge plate 16 is an upstanding supporting plate42, disposed adjacent to said post 17. Projecting from said supportingplate 42 is a fixed studshaft 43, upon which is rotatably mounted asleeve 44. Fixed on the outer end of said sleeve is a ratchet-wheel 45,and fixed on the inner end of said sleeve is a spur gear 46. Extendingthrough said supporting plate `42, so as to be journaled therein, is ashaft 47, upon the outer end of which is fixed a spur gear 4 8 whichmeshes with and is driven by the aforesaid spur gear 46. Fixed upon theinner end of said shaft 47 is a bevel drive gear 49, which meshes withsaid bevel driven gear 20 which is fixed upon the lower end of saidhollow shaft 18, within the interior of the housing 14. Pivotallysupported, so as to extend beneath said bridge plate 16, is a trip-lever51, to the outer free endfi50 of which is suspended a weight 52 or othersuitable means for exercising a `downwardly swinging pull upon saidtrip-lever. The lower margin of said trip-lever 51 is suitably shaped toprovide a trip-shoulder or step 53. Pivotally supported from a fulcrumpost 54, mounted on said supporting plate 42, is a secondary lever 55,which is positioned above the aforesaid rachet wheel mechanism.Interconnecting said trip-lever 51 with said secondary lever 55 is alink 56, said bridge plate 16 having a slot or opening 57 through whichsaid link 56 extends and moves. Pivot-ally connected with said secondarylever 55, at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, is a drivepawl58, the free end of which operatively cooperates with said ratchet-Wheel45, at one side of the latter. Also pivotally mounted on said fulcrunipost 54 is a stop-pawl 59, provided at its free end with ananti-friction roller 60. which cooperates with the teeth of saidratchetwheel 45, on the opposite side of the latter. Interconnectedbetween said drive-pawl 58 and said stop-pawl 59 is a pull-spring 61 thetension of which tends to keep said respective pawls in operativeengagement with the respective sides of said ratchet wheel. If desiredan auxiliary pullspring 62 may be interconnected between the free end ofsaid stop-pawl 59 and a fixed point on said bridge-plate 16, the tensionof which serves, in addition to that of the spring 61 to operativelymaintain said stoppawl in engagement with said ratchet-wheel Thereference character 63 indicates a air of bearing members orshaft-hangers, w ich depend from the underside of said bridgeplate 16.shaft-hangers 63 is a shaft 64, upon which is fixed a worm-gear 65. Alsofixed on said shaft 64 is a worm 66. Rotatably mounted on a stud-shaft67, which is fixed to a bracket member 68 secured to and projectingdownwardly from the underside of said,

bridge-plate 16, is a trip-wheel 69, having at its circumferenceworm-gear teeth 70 which mesh with said worm 66, whereby said tripwheelis rotated. Projecting from the outer face of said trip-wheel is one ormore tripstuds 71 in the form of anti-friction rollers; said trip-wheelhaving a plurality of circularly disposed and suitably spaced apartopenings or sockets 72, whereby two or more trip studs may be ad'ustedin position relative one to another, or purposes to be subsequently setforth.

The means for driving the automatic signal controlling and actuatingmechanism, above described, may comprise any suitable source of power,but, preferably, a comparatively small electric motor' 73 is employed,which is mounted within the housing 14, and the drive shaft 74 of whichis provided with a drive worm 75, which meshes with and drives saidworm-gear 65. y

The audible signal device with which the mechanism may be equi ped`comprises, preferably, a bell or gong 6, which may be suitably supported1n connection with a Rotatably supported by said,

lconnection with one of said shaft-han ers 63, is a bell-clapper orstriker 77, whici is provided with an actuating arm 78 arranged toextend adjacent to the rear face of said trip-wheel 69. Said trip-wheelis provided on its rear face with one or more trip-studs 79 to engageand actuate the arm 78 for the striker 77 when said trip-wheel isrotated. Provided in the rear face of said trip-wheel 69 is a circularrow of openings orsockets 8() whereby two or more trip-studs 79 ma beadjusted in position relative one toanot er, for purposes to besubesquently setforth.

The electrical connections or Wiring for supplying current to the motorand to the illuminating lamp for the night signal means, may, of course,be variously arranged,

in any manner found expedient; it is, preferable, however, to arrangewithin the housing 14 a switch-board 81, with a motor control switch 82and a 1i ht control switch 83, with suitable wiring ieadin therethroughfrom the source of supply to oth the motor and lamp. 'In Figure 9 of thedrawings. there is shown a wiring diagram, which lillustrates onepractical arrangement of the lighting and motor circuits. In the saiddiagram the source of supply is shown, for purposes of illustrationonly, as a battery 84, from which extends the,l feed-wire 85 to the lamp23, the returned wire 86 extending from the lamp through the switch 83back to the battery 84. Extending from said feed- -wire 85 leading fromthebattery 84 is a' branch feed-wire 85, which leads through the controlswitch 82 to one pole of the motor 7 3. and extending from the oppositepole of said motor 73 is a return wire 86 which connects with the mainreturn wire 86 leading back to said battery 84.

The operation of the automatic signal actuating mechanism, in the formabove described, is as follows Current being supplied to the motor 7 3,the operation thereof drives the worm gearl 65 and shaft 64 to rotatethe worm 66, and thereupon t0 in turn rotate the trip-wheel 69. The wormand gear transmission mechanism thus provided constitutes a reductiongearing, which may be so designed as to produce or transmit from anormal predetermined motor speed, a rotative speed to said trip-wheel 69of any desired predetermined time per revolution. For the sake ofillustration, we will assume that through said reduction gearing thetrip-wheel 69 is caused to make one complete revolution'; every twominutes. or one hundred and twenty seconds. We will also assume thatyhundred and eighty degrees, so that the signals will be so actuatedthat traffic will be alternately passed or stoppedfor equal time periodsas to each intersecting street at the junction of which the Ymechanismis installed. If, however, the traffic is normally heavier on one of theintersecting streets than it is on the other, so that it is desired tolengthen the time period of permitted passage thereof relative to-thestopped pcriod over said frstmentioned street, while at the same timecorrespondinglylengthening the stopped period relative to the passingperiod permitted on the other intersecting street, then the trip-studs71 are adjusted in relation one to the other, whereby such desiredcontrol is obtained, For example, if the trip-wheel 69 completes itsrotation in two minutes, and it is desired to pass trafiic on one streetand stop traffic on the other streetA for a period of eighty seconds,while only permitting trailic to pass on the latter street while stoppedon the former street for a period of forty seconds, then the tripstuds7l are so adjusted relative to each. other` that intermediate the sameon one side there is an interval of two-hundred and forty degrees,and'ntermediate the same on the other side there is an interval ofonehundred and twenty degrees, to the end that the period of display ofthe proper signals to the traiiic on the respective streets will bealternately and intermittently timed at,

The trip-wheel 69 is constantly driven,

and by its rotation lthe stop-studs 7l are carried into engagement withthe trip-lever 51 forward of the shoulder or step 53. The arc ofmovement of the trip-stud 71 in contact with the trip-leveril, tends toraise the latter against the pull of gravity exerted thereon by theweight 52. When the triplever 5lis thus swung upwardly, the upwardswinging motion thereof is transmitted by the link 56 to the secondarylever 55, thereby lifting the drive-pawl 58, to cause the latter to rideupwardly over one tooth of the ratchet-wheel 45. pawl is thuslifted toengage a succeeding or next tooth of the ratchet-wheel 45,' thetrip-stud 7l approaches the shoulder or step 53 of the trip-lever 5l. Asthe trip-stud Tl passes the shoulderor step 53, the trip-lever 51 drops,under the influence of the force of gravity exercised on the weight 52,and the trip-lever thus transmits through the link 56 a downwardswinging movement to the secondary lever 55, and thereby causes thedrive-pawl 58 to rotate the ratchet-wheel of a distance equal to themovement of one tooth thereof.` The rotation thus imparted to theratchet-wheel 45 is transmitted through the spur-gears 46 and 48, andthence By the time the drivethrough thebevel gears 49 and 2O to cause aquarter rotation of the signal carrying gear 48 is preferably one totwo, and consequently the transmitted movement results in turning thespur gear 46 and the bevel gear 4.() one fourth of a revolution, andsince the ratio between the bevel gear 49 and bevel gear 20 is even, itfollows that the signal carrying shaft 18 will be intermittently andalternately rotated by quarter-revolution impulses, to intermittentlydisplay the Stop and Go signals thereof alternatel to the respectiveintersecting streets at the junction of which the novel signal mechanismis installed.

Referring now to Fi ures 10 and 1L of the drawings, there is i lustratedthereby a simple form of automatic signal actuating mechanism, which isadapted for use where the time intervals, at which the signals are to bealternately and intermittently dis-- played, are equal. This modifiedform of actuating mechanism, comprises a vertical shaft 87 upon which isfixed a worm gear 88 which is driven by the worm ,88 on the drive shaft89 of an electric motor 90, or which may be otherwise driven if desired.Fixed on the lower end of the signal carrying shaft 18 is a femaleGeneva fixed on said shaft 87 is a male Geneva gear 92 which meshes withand drives said female Geneva gear 91. It will be understood thatthe'Geneva movement thus provided will produce an intermittent rotationof the` signal carrying shaft 18, so that during the period of *dwell ofthe female Geneva gear, the signal will be held stationary and 1 do notlimit' my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of theseveral devices and parts as described in said foregoing speciication,nor d o I confine myself to the exact details of the construction ofsaid parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. l

I claim f l. An automatic traffic signal mechanism,

Gear 91, and

comprising a supporting means provided with a vertically disposedrotatable shaft, visible signal means supported and pperated by saidshaft, means for imparting rotative impulses to said shaft to alter-lnately display desired signals to the traliic to be controlled, the sameincluding a ratchet-wheel, a gravity controlled lever mechanismincluding a drive-pawl for actuating said ratchet-wheel, a-rotar-tripwheel, said trip-wheel having a plura ity of trip-studs for raisingand tripping said lever mechanism, means whereby said tripstuds may beadjusted in `relation to each other to regulate the time of their activecooperation with said lever mechanism during each rotation of lsaidtrip-wheel and means for rotating'said trip-wheel.

2. An automatic traffic signal mechanism, comprising a supporting meansprovided with a vertically disposed rotatable shaft, visible si nalmeans supported and operated by said s aft, means for imparting rotativeimpulses to said lshaft to alternately` display desired signals to thetraffic to be controlled, the same including a ratchet-wheel, a gravitycontrolled lever mechanism in cluding a drive-pawl for actuating saidratchet-wheel, a rotary trip-wheel, said tripwheel having a plurality oftrip-studs for raising and tripping said lever mechanism,

. means whereby said trip-studs may be adjusted in relation to eachother to regulate the time of their active cooperation with said levermechanism during each rotation. of said trip-wheel, means for rotatingsaid trip-wheel, an audible signal element, means for sounding saidaudible signal element, a plurality of additional trip-studs on saidtrip-wheel to cooperate with and actuate said sounding means, and meansfor relatively adjusting said additional trip-studs4 in correspondencewith the adjustment of said first mentioned trip-studs whereby saidaudible signal is" actuated simultaneously with each actuation of saidvisible signals.

3. An automatic traffic signal mechanism, comprising a housing, a postsup orted within said housing to project vertical y and exteriorlyltherefrom, a hollow shaft ro tatably sup orted on said post, anillumlnated signa means carried by said hollow shaft, signal semaphoresalso carried by said hollow shaft, means for imparting rotatlve impulses'to said shaft to alternate y display desired illuminated signal meansand signal semaphores to the trafiic to be controlled, said rotationimpartin means including a ratchet-wheel, a pivote trip-lever, a weightattached to the end of sald trip-lever for producing operative downwardoscillations thereof, a pivoted secondary lever, a link interconnectmgsaid secondary lever with said trip-lever, said secondary lever having aspring-controlled drive-pawl to actively cooperate with saidratchet-wheel, and means for intermittentlyraising and tripping saidtrip-lever, said latter means being adjustable to relatively varysuccessive time intervals at which said trip-lever is'actuated thereby.

4. An automatic traffic signal mechanism, comprising a housing, a postsupported within said housing to project vertically and exteriorlytherefrom, a hollow shaft rotatably supported on said post, anilluminated signal means carried by said hellow shaft, signal semaphoresalso carried by said hollow shaft, means for impartinor rotativeimpulses to said shaft to alternately display desired illuminated signalmeans and signal semaphores to the traffic to be controlled, saidrotation imparting means including a ratchet-wheel, a pivotedtrip-lever, a weight attached to the end of said trip-lever forproducing operative tions thereof, a pivoted secondary lever, a linkinterconnecting said secondary lever with said trip-lever, saidsecondary lever having a spring-controlled drive-pawl to activelycooperate with said ratchet-wheel, means for intermittently raising andtripping said trip-lever, an audible si al element, and means foractuating sai audible signal in company with each operative movement ofsaid trip-lever for the purposes described.

5. An automatic traffic signal mechanism, comprising a housing, a postsupported within said housing to project verticall and exteriorlytherefrom, a hollow sha t rotatably supported on said post, anilluminated signal means carried by said hollow shaft, signal semaphoresalso carried by said hollow shaft, means for imparting rota-tiveimpulses to said shaft to alternately display desired illuminated signalmeans and signal semaphores to the trafficgto be controlled, saidrotation imparting means including a ratchet-wheel, a pivoted trip,-

downward oscillalever, a weight attached to the end of sa1d`- low shaft,signal semaphores also carried by said hollow shaft, means for impartingrotative impulses to said'shaft toalternately in relation to each otherto regulate the time of their active cooperation with said trip-leverduring each rotation of said tripu'heel, and means for rotating saidtripwheel.

7. An automatic trafiic signal mechanism` comprising a housing, a postsupported within said housing to project vertically and exteriorlytherefrom, a hollow shaft rotatably supported on said post, anilluminated signal means carried 'by said hollow shaft. signalsemaphores also carried by said hollow shaft, means for impartingrotative impulses to said shaft to alternately display desiredilluminated signal means' and signal semaphores to the traic to becontrolled, said rotation imparting means including a ratchet-wheel, aplvoted triplever, a Weight attached to the end of said trip-lever forproducing operative downward oscillations thereof, a pivoted secondarylever, a link interconnecting said secondary lever with said trip-lever,said secondary lever having a spring-controlled drive-pawl to activelycooperate with said ratchet-wheel, a rotary trip-Wheel, said tripwheelhaving a plurality of trip-studs for raising and tripping saidtrip-lever, means whereby said trip-studs may be adjusted in relation toeach other to regulate the time of their active cooperation with saidtrip-lever during each rotation of said tripwheel, means for rotatingsaid trip-Wheel, an audible signal element.'1neans for sounding saidaudible signal element, a plurality of additional trip-studs on saidtrip-wheel to cooperate with and actuate said sounding means, and meansfor relatively adjusting said additional trip-studs in correspondencewith the adjustment of said first mentioned trip-studs whereby saidaudible signal is actuated simultaneously with each actuation of saidilluminated and semaphore signal devices.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 8th day of January, 1924.

CHARLES H. KAYSER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FLORA MILLER.

